The government has issued a warning to residents near the Kiteezi landfill in Wakiso and Kampala, urging immediate evacuation due to the risk of another disaster. Heavy rains have increased the chances of a garbage heap collapse, similar to the deadly incident that occurred two months ago.
In a letter from the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Lilian Aber, local leaders in Wakiso and Kampala have been instructed to inform residents in vulnerable areas of the potential danger.
The minister’s warning points to the possibility of the landfill collapsing at any moment due to the ongoing rains.
“We are dealing with a very precarious situation. With the current weather conditions, another collapse at Kiteezi is highly likely. It is critical that residents in these high-risk areas relocate immediately for their own safety,” Aber stated in her letter.
The previous disaster in Kiteezi, which happened two months ago, saw a garbage heap collapse, killing dozens of people. A total of 35 bodies were recovered, with some still missing. In light of this tragedy, the government is taking measures to prevent another catastrophe, but residents are being urged to act swiftly to ensure their safety.
Despite the government’s warnings, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has criticised how the aftermath of the initial Kiteezi disaster was managed.
According to Lukwago, key actions were not taken following the incident, such as forming an interagency joint committee to coordinate responses between relevant government bodies.
“The government’s response has been fragmented and poorly coordinated. Important decisions like land allocation for the waste recycling plant and compensating affected families were made without involving KCCA leadership. We were left in the dark,” Lukwago said.
He also noted that findings from investigations into the disaster have not been shared with KCCA, as the Inspector General of Government (IGG) submitted the report only to the President.
The Lord Mayor emphasised the need for these issues to be brought before the Kampala City Executive Committee and the Council for approval, lamenting the lack of communication and involvement of local leadership in key decisions.
As the threat of another landfill collapse looms, the government continues to urge residents to heed evacuation warnings to avoid further loss of life.
